Cited by 507Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeural dynamics and brain functionMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Silent synapses during development of thalamocortical inputs

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Isaac, John T.R., Crair, Michael C., Nicoll, Roger A., Malenka, Robert C.·1997·Neuron

Abstract

During development, activity-dependent mechanisms are thought to contribute to the refinement of topographical projections from the thalamus to the cortex. Because activity-dependent increases in synaptic strength may contribute to the stabilization of synaptic connections, we have explored the mechanisms of long-term potentiation (LTP) at thalamocortical synapses in rat somatosensory (barrel) cortex. During early postnatal development (postnatal days 2-5), we find that a significant proportion of thalamocortical synapses are functionally silent and that these are converted to functional synapses during LTP. Silent synapses disappear by postnatal day 8-9, the exact time at which the susceptibility of these synapses to LTP is lost. These findings suggest that the activity-dependent conversion of silent to functional synapses due to correlated pre- and postsynaptic activity may contribute to the early development and refinement of thalamocortical inputs to cortex.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80267-6

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42 of 42 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • NMDARs are localized very early to the postsynaptic membrane, but transition to a more mature synapse state is characterized by recruitment of AMPARs to the synapse.

    “N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) are localized very early to the postsynaptic membrane, but transition to a more mature synapse state is characterized by recruitment of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPAR) to the synapse.71, 72, 73, 74”
  • Expression of AMPARs on the postsynaptic membrane is induced by NMDAR-mediated long term potentiation (LTP).

    “Expression of AMPARs on the postsynaptic membrane is induced by NMDAR-mediated long term potentiation (LTP), the same mechanism originally described in hippocampus for learning and memory.73, 74, 75, 76”
  • In early development, many synapse types are morphologically intact and can release glutamate, but most glutamatergic postsynapses on excitatory neurons are not yet functional.

    “While many synapse types are morphologically intact and capable of releasing glutamate, the majority of glutamaterigic post-synapses on excitatory neurons are not yet functional (Ashby and Isaac, 2011; Isaac et al., 1997; Petralia et al., 1999).”

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Authors
Isaac, J. T. R., Crair, M. C., Nicoll, R. A., & Malenka, R. C.
Affiliations
University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Malenka, Robert C.
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1997-02
Volume
18
Issue
2
Pages
269-280
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2158126393
Cited by
507
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 16
FWCI
11.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
silent synapses, thalamocortical synapses, long-term potentiation, synaptic development, activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, somatosensory barrel cortex, postnatal development
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Age Factors, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Membrane Potentials, Synaptic Transmission, Somatosensory Cortex, Synapses, Thalamus, Long-Term Potentiation, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Rats

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